Increased roles of linear algebra in control education

In the past, control theory developed along different lines that required different mathematical tools. Time varying systems required one set of tools, time-invariant another. SISO problems lend themselves easily to one approach, but this approach is awkward for MIMO systems, etc. The purpose of this paper is to point to the desirability of a unified approach to elementary control education using only tools of linear algebra as the enabling unifier. The following is a description and motivation for the proposed new control course (approach).